Spectacle-case



0. B. CARSON.

SPECTACLE CASE.

APPLICATION FILED ocr.22, 1919.

1,367,120. Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

WITNESS: C; N VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYJ UNITED STATES OSWAlLD IB. CARSON, OI BROOK LYN, YORK SPEGTACLE-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

Application filed October 22 1919. Serial No. 332,406.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSWALD B. CARSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, in the borough of Brooklyn and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in tipectaole-Cases,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to eye-glass and spectacle cases and other containers, the same residing in a novel construction of latching and latch releasing mechanism for the cover, whereby the cover is held securely locked when in its closed position, but ma be readily opened by the use of a single hand when desired.

The obj eot of the invention is to provide in a spectacle case or other container latching mechanism for the cover which is simple in construction, which has amaximum of resiliency in its spring action, which occupies a minimum of space in the body of the case or container, which may be readily secured in place, and which is readily accessible for i the releasing operation from the outside of the case or container.

Other objects of the invention will here inafter appear and the novel features thereof will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a spectacle case embodying my invention, the body being shown partly broken away and the cover in its open position;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the same;

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are detail views of modifled forms of the latching mechanism.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

In the illustrated embodiment the spectacle case comprises, as usual, a body 1 and a cover 2 hinged along one edge thereof. The body has the usual end flanges 3, side flanges 4 and overhanging lip 5, the said lip lying at an acute angle to the bottom wall ofthe body and preferably extending the entire length of said body. forming a tapering pocket for the reception of the lower edges of the spectacle lenses. A slot or opening 6 is formed in the front edgeof the body and communicates with said pocket. A spring 7 acts on the cover 2 to normally urge the latter to its open position. On the underside of the cover is a hook 8, which cooperates with the latching mechanism, to be of spring wire.

described, for holding the cover in its closed position, The specific form of hook illustrated is formed by cutting out a portion of the metal of which the cover is made'to produce a tongue which is bent downwardly and inwardly, as shown.

My improved latching mechanism in the form illustrated comprises two elongated spring arms 9 and 10, in line with each other, and an intermediate latch 11 shown in the form of a loop. The arms 9 and 10 are located in the pocket formed by the lip 5 and fit closely against the bottom walls of said pocket. The said arms are shown as extending the entire length of the pocket, terminating at the end flanges 3 of the body. The

. said arms are rigidly secured at their ends and the entire length thereof being utilized a long spring is provided which gives great flexibility and ease of action. The latch 11 is preferably located opposite the slot or opening 6, and said slot provides for access to the latching mechanism as a whole whereby the same may be operated by the application of one of the fingers of the hand thereto. The latch 11 is held resiliently against the under side of the lip 5 and projects slightly from the inner edge of said lip so that it may be engaged by the hook 8.

In my preferred construction I provide projecting finger engaging portions 12 which extend out through the slot or opening 6 so as to be readily accessible.

Also, in my preferred construction, I make the latching mechanism from a single piece This is bent at an intermediate point to form the loop or latch 11, is re -curved at the open end of said loop on both sides thereof to form the projecting finger engaging portions 12 and is bent outwardly in opposite directions therefrom to produce the straight elongated spring arms 9 and 10 in line with each other. And the ends ofthe spring arms are bent laterally to form the two flanges 13. These flanges lie in the same plane with each other and bear against the bottom wall of the body 1. But they lie in a different plane from that of the loop or latch 11 and the angle between the plane of the flanges 13 and that of the latch 11 is greater than the angle between the bot tom wall of the body and the lip 5. Thus, when the parts are assembled, the latch ll-is yieldingly held with a torsional spring action against the under side of the lip 5. The

flanges 13, in addition to being bent laterally,

" in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing.

also does away with the necessity for a tight fit between the flanges 13 and the ears 14. By reason of the fact that the flanges 13 are outwardly flared movement of the same toward the hinge 1 is effectually prevented, even when pressure is applied to the finger engaging portions '12 for flexing the spring arms and moving the latch 11 'rearwardly.

Instead of providing two finger engaging portions 12 which project through the slot 6 in the body of the case, a single one may be employed, as shown at 12, 12 and 12 In fact a projecting finger-engaging portion may be dispensed with altogether, as it is obvious that if the arms 9 and 10 be extended up to the open end of the loop 11 and the slot 6 be enlarged, all as shown in Fig.

6, the arms 9 and 10 may be flexed and the latch 11 moved rearwardly for releasing the hook 8. The loop or latch 11 may also be formed in different shapes, some of such different shapesbeing indicated at 11, 11 and 11, in'Figs. 3, land 5 of the drawing.

Construct-ed as above described it will be readily. understood that when the cover 2 is moved to its closed position the hook 8 will be engaged by the spring latch 11 and the coversecurely locked in place. In the closing movement of the cover the inclined edge of the hook 8 rides over the end of the latch 11 until the latter engages the shouldered portion of said hook. During this movement there is no danger of forcing the end of the latch 11 down toward the bottom wall of the body 1 as it is held by the spring action described against the lower surface of the lip 5. v To open the cover it is merely necessary to press against the finger-engaging portions 12 which may be done by the use of one hand only. This action flexes the spring arms 9 and 10, and moves the latch 11 rearwardly, and releases the hook 8 from its engagement therewith. The spring 7 then serves to throw the cover to its open position.

I claim:

1 The combinationwith a spectacle case comprising a body having an overhanging lip extending along one edge thereof, forming a pocket and having a slot leading into said pocket, a-hinged cover having a dependng hook thereon and a spring for normally urging said cover to its open position. of

gated spring arms secured at their outer ends, fitting within said pocket and extending along the bottom thereof, and. an interme diate latch projecting beyond the edge of: said lip, adapted to be engaged by said hook and yieldingly held against the under side of said lip.

2. The combination with a spectacle case comprising a body having an overhunging lip extending along one edge thereof. forming a pocket, and having a slot leading into said pocket, a hinged cover having a depending hook thereon and a spring for normally urging said cover to its open position, of latching mechanism acce :ible through the slot for operation comprising :1 pair of spring arms fitting within and extending along the bottom oi? said pocket. an intermediate latch, and liav ges on the ends of said arms lyingin the sameplaue with each other but in a dil'lerent plane from said latch, and securing devices for said flanges whereby said arms are capable oi? being flexed for the purpose oi releasing said latch from its engagement with said hook, and whereby said latch is held by the torsional a -tion of said spring against the under side (i said lip.

3. The combination with a spectacle vase comprising a body having an overhanging lip extending along one edge thereof, iorming a pocket, and having a slot leading into said pocket, a hinged cover having a slot leading into said. pocket, a hinged cover having :1 depending hook, and a spring for normally urging said cover to its open position, of latching mechanism cooperating with said hook, the same being made from a single piece of spring wire bent at a point intermediate its ends to form a. latch, recurred at the open end of said latch to form a finer engaging portion, bent outwardly there- Irom to form two spring arms lying in line with each other and bent laterally at the ends of said arms to form flanges, the latter lying in a different angular plane from said latch, and securing means for said flanges.

1. A container comprising a body having an overhanging lip extending along one edge thereof and forming with the body a small pocket, the bottom of the pocket having an opening therein for the operation of a latch, a spring-opened cover having a hook thereon, and a latch for said cover comprising a single piece of spring wire, the ends being curved to closely fit the ends of the case, the intermediate arms being disposed along the bottom of the pocket. and the central portion being bent upon itself to provide a catch and a finger engaging portion alined with said opening in the case, and lugs on said case for securing the the pocket bent to form a catch and a finger engaging portion, and having a long arm extending along the bottom of the pocket and secured at its end to the case.

6. A container comprising a body having an overhanging lip extending along one edgethereof and forming with the body a small pocket, the bottom of the pocket having an opening therein, a spring-opened cover having a hook thereon, and a latch for said cover disposed in said pocket and comprising a spring wire secured at its ends to the case and having a catch and a finger engaging portion adjacent the opening in the bottom of the pocket, the normal angle between the ends of the spring and the catch being greater than the angle between the ends of the spring and the Wall of the overhanging lip which is adjacent the catch,

whereby when in place the spring is under strain and the catch held yieldingly against the inner face of the lip.

7 A container comprising a body having an overhanging lip extending along one edge thereof and forming with the body a small pocket, the bottom of the pocket hav-. ing an opening therein, a spring-opened cover having a hook thereon, and a latch for said cover disposed in said pocket and comprising a spring wire having its ends secured to the case, and long intermediate arms lying in the bottom of the pocket, the long arms having their inner ends bent outwardly through the opening in the bottom of the pocket to form finger engaging portions, and then inwardly to forma catch.

8. A spectacle case comprising a body having an overhanging lip extending along one edge thereof and forming with the body a small pocket, a cover having a hook thereon, a latch for the cover comprising a single piece of spring wire having long oppositely extending arms disposed along the bottom of the small pocket and secured at the ends to said body, and having an intermediate portion bent upon itself to form a latch portion yieldingly held against the underside of the lip by the torsion in the arms and a fin er engaging portion.

9. The combination with a spectacle case comprising a body having an overhanging lip extending along one edge thereof, forming a pocket, and having a slot leading into said pocket, a hinged cover having a depending hook, and a spring for normally urging said cover to its open position, of latching mechanism cooperating with said hook, the same being made from a single piece of spring wire bent at a point intermediate its ends to form a latch, recurved at the open end of said latch to form a finger engaging portion, bent outwardly therefrom to form two spring arms lying in line with each other and bent laterally at the ends of said arms.

In witness whereof I subscribe my signature.

OSWALD B. CARSON. 

